How to Instill Creativity in Young Children – Guest Post by Sandra

June 2, 2016

This post has been sponsored. I have received compensation to share this content.

Creativity is, first of all, creation, the starting of something new. In early childhood and preschool a child’s creativity is ignited by productive activities like drawing, modeling, and applique. The result is always something you can see or hold in your hand, and show family and friends.

In the classroom, creativity with the smallest ones includes a variety of materials, tools and art techniques that produce results in just a few minutes! Simple techniques are mastered by the child quickly and easily. The main task of adults is to simply arouse interest for art in the child. This is very important because the goal of doing art with young children is not to get a beautiful end-product, but to hold their interest as for as long as possible.

Why is art important?

Classes of creative activities bring many benefits. They provide a variety of sensory experiences, develop fine motor skills, as well as speech. Art also familiarizes them with world cultures, helps to reveal creative potential, develops imagination and aesthetic taste, and teaches them to see beauty and diversity. Art also gives children the ability to see results of their efforts, fosters self-importance and competence.

At what age can we begin doing creative activities like drawing, modeling, and applique?

Classes of creative activities can be started when a child is as young as one-year-old. Of course, this must take into account the use of early development methods that offer the most simple, but very useful instruction.

The process should also not be complicated and time-consuming since 1-3 year-olds cannot engage in an activity for long. Therefore, you should count on the first to be only ten minutes, working up to fifteen to twenty. Of course, if the child becomes engaged and is able to play and create for a longer period of time, then go ahead and let them!

It is important to develop creativity in your child from the early age as it will help them as they get older, even with their writing skills, so they won’t have to use college writing services, asking them to “write my term papers.”

How to kindle a child’s interest in creative activities

A child’s love for painting, sculpting, even sewing or making appliques can begin with a story and a game. Once they understand the rules of the game, they will be happy to turn it into an interesting activity. An adult demonstrates the action, allowing the child to help or just watch, whichever they prefer. Do not push them and let them make the first move by themselves.

What if they ask to repeat the same exercise several times?

Repeat the activities as long as the child is interested, or as long as you have time for. Continuously offering the same art activities will help them better absorb their new skills. Feel free to introduce new skills, as well, bringing variety to the familiar.

What modern creative techniques are best for younger children, like toddlers?

Drawing with pens and pencils of different shapes, and painting with the fingers and palms, or using sponges are great age-appropriate techniques. Modeling with dough, plastic mass, playdough or clay, whether it’s to make balls, snakes or sausages or making different shapes and figures is also a great art medium to start with. You can also create appliques using scraps of colored paper or pasting images, or for some great, introductory sewing lessons, look here. Check out more toddler art ideas here.

How do I keep my child from painting on the walls, tasting the clay, etc.?

During the classes of creative activities, teach the baby to observe the rules for the use of art materials. Show them the proper place where marker pens, paint, clay, glue, and paper are to be used, and firmly enforce these rules. To keep little fingers from temptation, be sure that art is only done under the supervision of an adult. After the lesson, remove all materials out of the child’s reach.

Giving children joyful moments of art and creativity is in our power! We wish you success!

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Sandra J. Hayward is a Miami Dade college MBA graduate that is interested in academic research and writing, but does not want to depend on the rigorous schedule. That is why she has been collaborating with blogs for a long time as a freelance writer and enjoys her flextime a lot.

Comments

Just happen to stumble upon your page and really loved it. With so many things to do in a day, many of us forget to nourish the artistic minds of our little ones. My younger one didnt wait for me to help him, he has started showcasing his art on our walls with his elder brother’s crayons.

This is SUCH an important topic. Schools have a bad habit of knocking all creativity out of children in exchanged for brittle, rote knowledge. They also tend to pigeon-hole students as either “academic” or “artsy,” and then tell students they are either “good or bad” at a topic.

I think the most important thing is supporting a child in whatever activity they choose, and praise the effort NOT the outcome. Not everyone can be a professional painter, but everyone can improve their arts skills with time and practice – so we shouldn’t be discouraging children from a young age.